Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
G611
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
2 of 26
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἄγγελος
the angel
G32
ἄγγελος
the angel
Strong's:
G32
Word #:
4 of 26
compare g0034) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
αὐτῇ
unto her
G846
αὐτῇ
unto her
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Πνεῦμα
Ghost
G4151
Πνεῦμα
Ghost
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
7 of 26
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
ἅγιον
The Holy
G40
ἅγιον
The Holy
Strong's:
G40
Word #:
8 of 26
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
ἐπελεύσεται
shall come
G1904
ἐπελεύσεται
shall come
Strong's:
G1904
Word #:
9 of 26
to supervene, i.e., arrive, occur, impend, attack, (figuratively) influence
ἐπὶ
upon
G1909
ἐπὶ
upon
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
10 of 26
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δύναμις
the power
G1411
δύναμις
the power
Strong's:
G1411
Word #:
13 of 26
force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)
ὑψίστου
of the Highest
G5310
ὑψίστου
of the Highest
Strong's:
G5310
Word #:
14 of 26
highest, i.e., (masculine singular) the supreme (god), or (neuter plural) the heavens
ἐπισκιάσει
shall overshadow
G1982
ἐπισκιάσει
shall overshadow
Strong's:
G1982
Word #:
15 of 26
to cast a shade upon, i.e., (by analogy) to envelop in a haze of brilliancy; figuratively, to invest with preternatural influence
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
18 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γεννώμενον
which shall be born
G1080
γεννώμενον
which shall be born
Strong's:
G1080
Word #:
20 of 26
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
ἐκ
of
G1537
ἐκ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
21 of 26
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ἅγιον
The Holy
G40
ἅγιον
The Holy
Strong's:
G40
Word #:
23 of 26
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
κληθήσεται
shall be called
G2564
κληθήσεται
shall be called
Strong's:
G2564
Word #:
24 of 26
to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
Cross References
Matthew 1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.John 1:49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.John 1:34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.Matthew 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.Romans 1:4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:Mark 1:24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.Matthew 27:54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.Luke 1:27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.Acts 8:36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Historical Context
Virgin birth was not a concept borrowed from pagan mythology, as critics claim. Greco-Roman myths involved physical union between gods and humans—completely different from Luke's account of creative divine action without sexual contact. Isaiah 7:14's 'almah' (עַלְמָה, young woman) was translated 'parthenos' (παρθένος, virgin) in the Septuagint, establishing prophetic precedent. Early Christian preaching (Acts 13:33, Romans 1:3-4) affirmed Jesus' divine sonship while emphasizing Davidic descent.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is the virgin birth theologically necessary for the incarnation and for Christ's sinlessness?
- How does the Spirit's creative work in Mary's womb connect to the Spirit's work in regeneration (John 3:5-8)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Gabriel explains the mechanism of virgin conception: 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee' (πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι). The verb 'episkiazō' (ἐπισκιάζω, 'overshadow') recalls the cloud of God's glory overshadowing the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35), suggesting the new creation parallels the original creation when God's Spirit hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2). The conclusion 'therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God' establishes Jesus' divine sonship not through adoption but through supernatural conception. This virgin birth is essential to Christology—Jesus must be fully human (Mary's son) yet without inherited sin nature, and fully divine (conceived by the Spirit).